Shaved my first goat today - Shame on you all for not warning me...

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Umm, yes, I did. Only one of them though. She has dark skin, so hopefully she won't get burnt. How about a #10? That's what I have access to at work and I still have to do the other 3.

Yes, a 10 is fine. Just use it with the grain on the body coat. Some folks do reverse it even on the body, but it's not my preference. Even with a #7 rev they're at risk of a sunburn, just more so with a #40. No worries, it's just the visual made me crack up. Your goat is nakey! I'll bet you can find some spray type sunscreen at the feed store...

I don't know what either of those statements mean. Told you I was new to this!

That's ok! With the grain is with the lay of the hair. Against the grain is just the opposite, you shave in the direction against the natural lay of the hair. As a general rule, reversing a blade (shaving against the grain) will give you a cutting action 2 steps shorter than if you were cutting with the lay of the hair. So, a #7 blade reversed (the bigger the number, the shorter the blade) will give you approximately the same length as a #10 blade used WITH the grain. Does that make sense?

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I actually like to reverse a #10 the legs on some of my goats and blend into a #7 reversed on the body. I think it looks really clean. I leave a little more hair on my black does or they look washed out, or my one white doe because I don't want her to be pink. I use a #40 on udders. There isn't one "right" length to use, it just sorta depends on the goat and what your preference is, how close you are to the show/LA date, etc.

 

[KellyHM]

Yep, makes sense. I shaved EVERYTHING AGAINST the grain with a #40. My poor goat.

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

My goats are very thankful for this forum - otherwise they'd probably be wearing a reverse 40 cut!

 

[cindyg]

Hi all, Newbie here and Im wondering why is it that you all are shaving your goats? I brush mine, but never thought about shaving them. Gotta learn this stuff.

 

[KellyHM]

Hi all, Newbie here and Im wondering why is it that you all are shaving your goats? I brush mine, but never thought about shaving them. Gotta learn this stuff.

Only if you're showing them.

 

[helmstead]

I even shave my goaties that aren't showing, every spring, every one of them. A) to give the skin some air B) to help them blow that winter fuzz and C) to make sure they're conditioned the way I FEEL they are or should be.

 

[freemotion]

Yep, makes sense. I shaved EVERYTHING AGAINST the grain with a #40. My poor goat.

Sounds surgical to me....

 

[KellyHM]

I even shave my goaties that aren't showing, every spring, every one of them. A) to give the skin some air B) to help them blow that winter fuzz and C) to make sure they're conditioned the way I FEEL they are or should be.

Ummm, b/c you're crazy.

 

[KellyHM]

Yep, makes sense. I shaved EVERYTHING AGAINST the grain with a #40. My poor goat.

Sounds surgical to me....

Did I mention I'm a vet? Surgical is all I know.